Notifier UniNet 2000, Installation, Operation, And Administration Manual

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104 The Workstation Installation/Operation Manual Version 2 Document 51540 Rev. B1 4/8/02
Compacting Databases
When an entry is deleted from a database in the workstation it is flagged as being deleted. If the next entry to be
added will fit in the deleted entry's location, it will be overwritten. Unfortunately, this system is not perfect, and the
database files can grow larger in size over time because of unused space.
Using the command
Compact All Databases , the software rebuilds the index file and removes the dead space
in the file. It is recommended that a database be compacted any time a large portion of that database is deleted.
Compacting does not delete or modify any actual data, so periodic compacting of the database is a good idea for
optimal system performance. This function is executed automatically at midnight each day.
Database Synchronization
The system periodically synchronizes all workstation databases with the master database. Any time a change is
performed locally, it is transferred to all other workstations. Likewise, in multi-workstation systems, each time a
workstation is launched it will synchronize its database with any running workstation. It is also possible to manually
synchronize a workstation using the Database Synchronization menu. Selecting either command will bring up a file
selection box. Using this, you can synchronize to another database on the network or another file (perhaps created
somewhere off the network).
NOTE: It is strongly recommended that standard Windows maintenance procedures be performed on
any computer on the network at least once a month. This should include running a detailed Scandisk
and Defragmentation of the hard drive.
Warning : If you have a workstation running with a blank or out-of-date screen.mdb and another
workstation is started with an up-to-date screen.mdb, it will synchronize its screen.mdb with the running
workstation on startup. Always shut down any out-of-date or new workstations before starting a
workstation with an up-to-date screen.mdb. In addition, be sure to make frequent backups of data-
bases to avoid the permenant loss of database information.
Database Optimization
Another option under the Maintenance menu is Reindex/Optimize Screen Database. This option should
be used after editing sessions where screens or sites have been deleted or when devices have been added or
removed. When executed this option checks the database and corrects any errors in screen numbering and device
indexing.
Off-line Compacting and Repair
All of the compacting and repair operations described above can be performed with the workstation application
shut down. This is done as a command operation from the Run dialog box under the Windows Start menu.
These utilities are executed by adding parameters to the launch command for the workstation. The command line
parameters are as follows:
Compact history.mdb = -DBCOMPHIS Repair history.mdb = -DBREPHIS
Compact system.mdb = -DBCOMPSYS Repair system.mdb = -DBREPSYS
Compact screen.mdb = -DBCOMPSCR Repair screen.mdb = -DBREPSCR
These parameters may be used individually or in groups using the format in the following example:
c:\uninet\ws\uninet -dbcomphis -dbrepsys -dbcompscr
Running this command line executes the attached compact or repair utility first, then launches the workstation
application.